30 DAYS OF DARKNESS Book Review

Info

Written By: Jenny Lund Madsen – Translated by Megan E Turney

Published By: Orenda Books.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review, also thanks to Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.

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Overview

A snobbish Danish literary author is challenged to write a crime novel in thirty days, travelling to a small village in Iceland for inspiration, and then a body appears … an atmospheric, darkly funny, twisty debut thriller, first in an addictive new series.

Overview taken from the official description on the publisher’s website.

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Review

When a book as stunning as this appears you just have to explore it and when I say it’s stunning it really is. First it was indeed the cover that hooked me in as the dark surrounding landscape engulfs the house in the centre of the picture which is then accentuated with the bold orange lettering dramatically introducing you to Thirty Days of Darkness and you can’t talk about the cover with mentioning the beautiful sprayed page edges in an eye catching orange with typewriter markings across the front, a beautiful touch.

The story of the book first made me think of a film I have seen recently called Blank where a writer is sent away to come up with her next book. Thirty Days of Darkness takes the story and runs with it creating a far better story than I experienced in the film, Hannah creates a challenge with Jørg, the best selling crime writer, to write a crime novel within a 30 day time window which might sound relatively straightforward to most crime writers however Hannah isn’t a crime writer and this is definitely out of her comfort zone of normal writing but her distaste for Jørg is greater and the need to show she can do it definitely the driving force.

With her agent more than happy to jump on this incredible PR hype train plans are rapidly put into place, Hannah needs to get herself away from the usual humdrum that is draining her creativity she needs to be somewhere that will give her the creativity she needs to enable her to write the best crime novel anyone has ever seen. An idyllic village in Iceland, Húsafjörður is the perfect backdrop for this to happen with the locals friendly enough and the agent’s contacts coming through offering lodgings and a warm welcome. Ella will be Hannah’s host and is more than welcoming albeit slightly strange with also the language barrier causing some frustration from the off, but she is accommodating and that is exactly what Hannah needs right now.

What at first glance seems like an pretty normal Icelandic village making Hannah think of just throwing in the towel and heading home as the story is just never going to come, however the darkness soon descends as a body of a young man, Thor – nephew of Hannah’s host Ella – the crime story soon becomes a reality and Hannah finds herself unravelling what at first glance seemed like an accident which is getting more and more darker the deeper she goes, perfect material for the book.

Jenny Lund Madsen writes in a way that captivates you from the very first page, it was almost as though the book was stuck to my hands I just couldn’t put it down. The thrilling twists and turns of the book draws you deep into the book and the many questions over who done it and why fly around your head as you try to make sense of the mysterious backdrop of this story. Initially I was a little unsure when I found out that the book was a translation as I assumed it would be difficult to follow but I couldn’t have been more wrong, the story flowed naturally throughout the pages and engulfed me into the world that Jenny has created, a bomb could’ve gone off and I wouldn’t have cared I just needed to finish this book

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Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book and I would say alot more than I initially thought I would. I have always enjoyed crime novels but they’ve never been my first port of call, if the name Jenny Lund Madsen is on them they definitely will be now. If you like dark and edgy crime with a varied range of emotions then most definitely pick this book up – one of the best I’ve read so far this year.

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Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Thirty Days of Darkness an excellent full marks score of 5 ⭐, a thrilling rollercoaster ride with a dark intensity that never falters. Would definitely recommend you pick this up pronto.

Thirty Days of Darkness is available now wherever good books are sold.

Note on the author

Jenny Lund Madsen is one of Denmark’s most acclaimed scriptwriters (including the
international hits Rita and Follow the Money) and is known as an advocate for better
representation for sexual and ethnic minorities in Danish TV and film. She recently made
her debut as a playwright with the critically acclaimed Audition (Aarhus Teater) and her
debut literary thriller, Thirty Days of Darkness, first in an addictive new series, won the
Harald Mogensen Prize for Best Danish Crime Novel of the year and was shortlisted for
the coveted Glass Key Award. She lives in Denmark with her young family.

This review is part of the Random Things Blog Tour so please check out the other bloggers on this tour and thank you to Random Things Blog Tours for including me on this tour.

LAST TESTAMENT IN BOLOGNA Book Review

Info

Written By: Tom Benjamin.

Published By: Constable.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and for Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.

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Overview

Last Testament in Bologna is the fourth in Tom Benjamin’s critically-acclaimed Bologna-set series featuring British private detective Daniel Leicester.

When an old man makes a bequest to investigate the mysterious death of his son, English detective Daniel Leicester follows a trail to one of Bologna’s wealthiest families – makers of some of the world’s most coveted supercars – and discovers that beneath the glamour of the Formula One circuit lurk sinister interests that may be prepared to kill to keep their secrets.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

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Review

Families inevitably disagree on most things but when it comes down to reading the last will and testament the darkest of shadows appear from the closet. Last Testament in Bologna is like delving deep into an oil painting of one of the most beautiful countries this planet has to offer, Tom Benjamin not only lays the foundations he takes you deep within this shady world and makes you feel like you’re deep in the pages.

The story is a continuation of the detective series that follows Daniel Leicester of Faidate Investigations, this time he is tasked to delve deep into one of Bologna’s wealthiest families and as he does so begins to unravel a dark conspiracy that is set to rock Bologna to its very core.

When I first heard about the book I was intrigued to see that the story would be set within the world of F1, being an F1 fan I thought that the story would involve more of the F1 behind the scenes and even delve a little deeper into the murky underworld but really the F1 theme serves as more of a glamorous backdrop and the story builds it’s own gritty path within that.

I liked the characters and personalities that came through as we discover those that benefitted from Giorgio Chiesa’s will and the issues this will cause. Reading deeper into the book the writing allows the characters to individually grow and each working well together to enhance the storytelling. You definitely don’t need to be a fan of F1 to enjoy this book it kind of skirts around the theme with the emphasis more on the unraveling of hidden skeletons in closets.

I liked the style of writing of Tom Benjamin an intense style that kind of encapsulates you and keeps you locked in throughout, this being my introduction to the series as a whole even though I hadn’t read the previous books I still felt like I could follow the story and enjoy the story but the inquisitive nature I have would mean that I will most probably hunt down the other books in the series.

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Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t what I was initially expecting however I did enjoy the intricate twists and turns with many dark secrets exposed for certain sending rumbles throughout Bologna. A definite recommendation from me.

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Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give Last Testament in Bologna a good score of 4⭐, a good overall read that had a natural progression throughout building to the intriguing end. This was my introduction to Tom Benjamin as a writer and the Daniel Leicester series but I can honestly say I’m impressed so far and looking forward to seeing more.

Last Testament in Bologna is available now where ever you get your books from

This is book 5 in the series.

Note on the author

Tom Benjamin grew up in the suburbs of north London and began his working life as a journalist before becoming a spokesman for Scotland Yard. He later moved into public health, where he led drugs awareness programme FRANK. He now lives in Bologna.

This was my stop on the Random Things Blog Tour, please don’t forget to check out the other bloggers on the tour

WILD TREASURES Book Review

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Written By: Hannah Stitfall.

Published By: Gaia / Octopus Books.

Thanks to the publisher and Random Things Blog Tour for sending me a physical copy of the book.

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Overview

Hannah Stitfall is a TV presenter and zoologist, who regularly gets up in the early hours of the morning to try and catch sight of some of Cornwall’s best hidden wildlife. She will spend hours on end waiting for a creature to appear among a hedgerow, scurrying across Cornwall’s open fields or taking flight across its towering cliffs and sandy beaches. In these brief, magical moments, Hannah is able to see and capture animal behaviour that the general public rarely get to witness.

In this book, Hannah shares her incredible stories, beautiful photographs and often funny meetings with Cornwall’s wildlife through the course of a year. From brown hares boxing in the grass in the spring, watching an otter cub hunt in the wetlands in winter, to witnessing the unique bioluminescence of a glow-worm in the summer, Wild Treasures is a remarkable diary, informative guide and joyous celebration of our nation’s wonderful creatures.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

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Review

I’m a big fan of the country and enjoy watching the wildlife programs on TV and various videos on TikTok and YouTube, the natural world is breathtaking at times and you can sometimes forget the beauty we have on our doorstep. One of my favourite presenters / content creators on this subject is Hannah Stitfall as she seems down to earth and more relatable than some you may have come across previously, some of the videos she posts online are stunning to say the least and when I found out that she was releasing a book on her wildlife adventures I just had to get involved in the tour to get a glimpse of what Hannah goes through to get that perfect shot.

The book itself is a month by month diary that takes you on an inspirational journey through the seasons. Being a dog owner myself (a springer called Mickey) I enjoyed the tales of the adventures that Hannah and her dog Isabelle have as I can imagine myself and my furry friend enjoying similar escapades. The book goes into detail what the lengths Hannah goes through to get the perfect shot, sitting in the hedgerows for hours on end in the hope that she can capture the amazing shots we see online.

The way Hannah describes the wonderful countryside that engulfs her home of Cornwall you know that she loves where she lives and appreciates the beauty that surrounds her.

The words Hannah uses to describe her adventures within the book captivate and take the reader on an almost magical journey allowing you to travel the countryside of Cornwall from the comfort of your sofa (with a nice brew)

This was a step back from what I would normally have gone for but with the subject matter being of interest it was a book that did capture my interest and from opening the cover I just knew that this would be a book that I would struggle to put down.

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Summary

Time now then for me to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I really enjoyed the book I felt it was a relaxing read throughout and naturally flowed all the way through, you can tell that Hannah loves what she does as her enthusiasm bursts of each page and you can’t help but be inspired by her writing, it certainly has me wanting to explore more of the area I live. This is the perfect book to read on a nice sunny day in the garden enjoying a nice brew and listening to the bird song.

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Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Wild Treasures an excellent top marks of 5⭐ an enthusiastic look at the life of a wildlife photographer from someone who lives and breathes what she does. This book will definitely inspire you to get out and appreciate what is around you. A definite recommendation from me.

Wild Treasures is available now where all good books are sold.

A note on the author

Hannah Stitfall is a wildlife presenter and zoologist.

She’s presented on The One Show, BBC Earth and Radio 4, and she’s a regular digital presenter on the Winterwatch and Springwatch social channels.

Hannah also leads her own seasonal wildlife watching safaris in Cornwall which routinely sell out.

Many thanks to Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to this tour, be sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE Book Review

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Written By: Peter Brown and Steven Gaines.

Published By: Monoray / Octopus Books.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and for Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour.

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Overview

All You Need is Love is a ground-breaking oral history of the Beatles and how it all came
to an end. Based on never-before-published or heard interviews with Paul McCartney,
Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and their families, friends, and business
associates, this is a landmark book, containing stunning new revelations, about the
biggest band the world has ever seen.

In 1980-1981 former COO of Apple Corp, Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines
interviewed everyone in the Beatles’ inner circle and included a small portion of the
transcripts in their international bestselling book The Love You Make, which spent four
months on the New York Times bestseller list. But left in their archives was a treasure
trove of unique and candid interviews that they chose not to publish, until now. A powerful
work assembled through honest, intimate, sometimes contradictory and always
fascinating testimony, All You Need is Love is a one-of-a-kind insight into the final days,
weeks, months and years of the Beatles phenomenon.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

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Review

Being a Beatles fan I was quite looking forward to getting into this book as I’ve often wondered what exactly happened at the end of The Beatles, I’ve heard countless stories over the years but this book is really from the horses mouth with real life accounts from the people within the inner circle of the fab five.

The book is written in an interview style in a manuscript form so you read it as if you are actually present whilst the interviews are taking place which gives the book a more authentic feel, giving the reader a unique opportunity to step inside the inner circle of one of the most famous bands of all time.

I always had the impression that The Beatles were big mates and all got on but really what we were seeing wasn’t telling the full story as towards the end the cracks were beginning to become caverns between the 5 mainly so between Paul and John who really were the driving forces of the band and where most of the creativity came from and this breakdown of friendship would take it’s toll on the band.

As you read through the book and the many truthful accounts you begin to understand the reasons the hysteria had to end, infighting, differences of opinion and differences of direction.

This book is definitely going to be a conversation starter within the fan base as people will again begin to discuss the revelations found within the pages, the book isn’t designed to shock and it didn’t seem to me that Peter Brown and Steven Gaines had set out to tarnish the band’s reputation and legacy it is more a chance to put the record straight and tell the other side of the story that isn’t glamourised for the press.

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Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book it was an interesting read that certainly raised my eyebrows on a few occasions. I’m glad it wasn’t a smear campaign as it easily could’ve been, this is a frank and honest account from the people that knew the band the most. If you are a fan of The Beatles this is a definite as the authors do their very best at setting the record straight.

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Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give All You Need Is Love a good score of 4 ⭐ a must read for The Beatles fans and open and honest account from the people closest to the band, be prepared to have your eyebrows raised.

All You Need Is Love is available 11th April 2024 from wherever good books are sold.

A Note on The Authors

STEVEN GAINES is the New York Times bestselling author of Philistines at the Hedgerow:
Passion and Property in the Hamptons and The Love You Make: An Insiders Story of the
Beatles (with Peter Brown). His journalism has appeared in Vanity Fair, the New York
Times, and New York magazine, where he was a contributing editor for 12 years. Mr.
Gaines is the co-founder and a past vice-chairman of the Hamptons International Film
Festival. He has lived in Wainscott, a small hamlet on the East End of Long Island, for 40
years.

PETER BROWN is the former COO of Apple Corp, the Beatles’ financial empire. He’s been
a Beatles intimate since their earliest days in Liverpool. Their passports were locked in his
desk drawer. He was best man at John and Yoko’s wedding, he introduced Paul to Linda
Eastman, and perhaps the most charming of his credentials is that he’s the only real
person ever mentioned in a Beatles song, “Peter Brown called to say, you can make it
okay, you can marry in Gibraltar near Spain,” from the “Ballad of John and Yoko.” Mr.
Brown is now chairman of the international public relations firm of Brown Lloyd James
LTD

Thanks to Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour, be sure to check out other reviews on the tour

WHITECHAPEL: AUTUMN OF ERROR Book Review

Info

Written By: Ian Porter.

Published By: Matador.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and for Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour.

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Overview

Whitechapel 1888; a killer is on the loose and the newspapers are ensuring the nation knows all about not just the crimes but the terrible living conditions in which they are being perpetrated.

Nashey, a tough, scary yet charismatic man of the night, whose mother had to prostitute herself when he was a boy, knows the identity of the killer but keeps it a secret. He believes the publicity generated by the murders is forcing the authorities to address the poverty and degradation in the area. He allows the killer to remain free (whilst ensuring no more women are attacked) so the unsolved murders continue to dominate the headlines. He meets Sookey, an eccentric middle-class slummer and civilising influence. The two of them share a mutual friend, Mary Kelly, a fiery young prostitute whose back-story tells of how she was reduced to such a life.

To fund his surveillance of the killer, Nashey agrees, against his better judgement, to assist an old adversary to commit a daring night robbery under the noses of the huge police presence in the area.

Is it too late for Nashey and Mary to correct their mistakes?

Overview taken from the official book press release.

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Review

We’ve all by now probably heard the story of Jack The Ripper and his hideous crimes that rocked 18th Century London, but we haven’t had an insight into the life of 18th Century London and the struggles that the people went through all at the same time of one of the spree of one of Britain’s worst murderers.

The other main characters in the story is Sookey and  Mary two fiery women trying to find their way through the hard streets in slightly different ways. Sookey a middle class woman looking at making what difference she can but is finding out that living in the gritty neighborhood of Whitechapel is harder than life should be. The link between these two is Mary, a woman of the streets much like many women of that era unfortunately the life of the streets is a greater pull than earning money the honest way which could well be minimal at best.

The story centres around a small nucleus of characters but the main focus is on Nashey, Sookey and Mary, Nashey is a battle toughened rogue that was born on the streets and lives his life on the streets making his way through the world the only way he knows how that’s through his mind and fists, his fists are his greatest weapon partner that with his expert criminal minds and you have the catalyst for a ruffian on these streets. But Nashey is a bit different for he has a heart and he wears it on his sleeve.

The story flows well and Ian Porter does a great job of painting a gritty scene that captures the readers mind and takes them deep into the streets of Whitechapel, the descriptive detail makes you almost feel the grime on the pages. The story takes a twist when Nashey witnesses an attack on a lady of the night by a strange mysterious figure, could this figure turn out to be The Ripper himself? Nashey makes it his life’s work to hunt for the truth leading him into pulling off one more job to help fund his search. Nashey will need to knock on a few doors and if needed knock a few heads, these questions need to be answered and fast.

The story is a path of discovery, of love and loss in an historically accurate story that will educate you in a way you probably have never been before, I’ve always been a fan of criminal history but this version of the Jack The Ripper story is probably one of the best I’ve read.

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Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Whitechapel Autumn of Error an excellent score of 5 ⭐ a very detailed, historically accurate journey into a dark world that you will find familiar but the story is told from a fresh angle. Will leave you with a new found interest in the Jack The Ripper story, I for one want to know more.

Whitechapel Autumn of Error is available now wherever good books are sold.

A note on the author

Ian Porter is a historian, lecturer, public speaker and walks guide.
He has a particular interest in women’s history and social history.
His novels are renowned for being extremely well researched and historically accurate.

Whitechapel Autumn of Error is a typically feminist, social history novel that brings the dark streets of the East End 1888 to life.
He has written several other novels including the highly acclaimed Suffragette Autumn Women’s Spring, set during the fight for the vote for women, and a Plague On Both Your Houses, set in both London & Berlin in 1918/19 during the final months of the Great War and the Spanish Flu.

Ian is getting on a bit (well, aged 69). His grandparents were young adults living in East London at the time of the Whitechapel Murders. 

This review is part of the Random Things Book Tour be sure to check out the others on the tour

HONOUR AMONG SPIES Book Review

Info

Written By: Merle Nygate.

Published By: No Exit Press.

Released: 11 April 2024.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of the book for the purpose of this review and thanks to Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour.

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Overview

At the heart of London’s spy operations, Mossad head of station Eli carries the scars of a past disaster while grappling with the turbulent political landscape back home. His resolve to uphold his duty and keep his job is tested like never before.

Desperate to tip the scales in the espionage game, Eli concocts a risky plan involving tampered drones destined for Russian hands. But to execute this plan, he has to exploit those closest to him. Eli’s moral compass clashes with the mission, leading him down a treacherous path of betrayal.

As the stakes escalate, Eli finds himself embroiled in a deadly web, racing to foil an apocalyptic agenda. With the clock ticking, alliances are tested, sacrifices are made, and Eli must confront the consequence of his actions head-on.

Eli and his team must navigate a shadowy underworld to prevent a terrorist plot from unleashing chaos on a global scale. Will they emerge victorious, or will the darkness consume them all?

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Review

Diving into a good spy thriller is always a good thing so I was looking forward to this one in the hope of a full throttle thrill ride. The story I got was a little different to what I expected, it wasn’t the usual “gung ho” over the top action page turner this story is far deeper than you would’ve expected.

The book seems to show another side of a story that we have heard so many times before and for that I found it refreshing. Usually we have the proud Brits taking the fight to some dark force which is normally of a Russian or other descent, but we see Eli heading up the London branch of the top secret group Mossad which is righting the wrongs of their homeland of the Far East of Muslim origin against an increasingly difficult modern political backdrop.

For me personally I found it particularly refreshing to see a story told from another angle, still good Vs evil but just told in a different way and at the same time highlighting some of the struggles that you don’t normally see.

The story flowed naturally with the beginning building the foundations and setting the tension that supplies the hook for the reader and as you progress through the book the story builds pace as tension bubbles to boiling point as lines begin to blur as Eli and his team try to get justice by any means necessary which doesn’t always involve using the most ethical actions.

Using those close to get the in roads needed to get to the end goal, whether it causes hurt or not the main goal for Eli is to complete the mission as the job begins to take over his life, who he has to betray to get to that goal just becomes collateral damage, or is that really the case as we begin to see the cracks show in this strong character. Going up against the Russians could well be something he could live to regret, desperation can make the mind do irrational things.

Overall the story of Honor Among Spies takes you on a journey through a dark political landscape that shines light on a different fight that is happening everyday, it has emotion, it has betrayal all mixed together with a page turning tension.

I felt Merle Nygate carries on building her strong base of characters within this series that allows the story to grow at a pace that allows the reader to engage in the world of the story and become entwined with the overall story. Overall it wasn’t what I expected but I’m definitely glad I experienced it a book I enjoyed, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Eli.

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Verdict

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give Honor Among Spies a good score of 4 ⭐, good character building allows the story to build at a natural pace and brings the reader into the full body of the story. I would definitely recommend this book for those that love a good story of tension within the pages.

Honor Among Spies is available 11th April 2024 wherever good books are sold.

A note on the author

Merle Nygate is a screenwriter, script editor, screenwriting lecturer and novelist; she’s worked on BAFTA winning TV, New York Festival audio drama and written original sitcoms; previously she worked for BBC Comedy Commissioning as well as writing and script editing across multiple genres.

Most recently, Merle completed her first espionage novel which won the Little Brown/UEA Crime Fiction Award. It was described by the judge as ‘outstanding’.

This review will be part of the Random Things Blog Tour, be sure to check out the others on the blog tour

ASSIMILATION Book Review

Info

Written by : Sophie Buchaillard

Published by : Honno

Price : £9.99 (UK price)

Available : 29th February 2024

Thanks to the publisher ( via Random Things Tours ) for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review.

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Overview

Charlotte, young and fiercely independent, leaves the constraints of her Parisian childhood for Wales, running away from a traumatic event. Hoping to find peace and somewhere to rebuild her life, she is confronted with a growing sense of fragmentation and soon unravels.

Her mother, Marianne, well-travelled and with a colourful past, is keeping a terrible secret. She tries her best to conform her family to French middle class expectations when all at home is far from ordinary.

Wilson, a Nigerian man with a ticket to a new life studying at a New York university, falls victim to the French immigration system and finds himself stranded in Paris awaiting a visa that never comes.

A vivid and powerful novel exploring how travel, memory and family stories shape who we are. Set against the backdrop of significant political and humanitarian events, questioning how we see migration today. Assimilation is an important book for our time.

Overview taken from the book release information.

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Review

At times when it comes to reading it’s nice to step away from the norm and take hold of a book that takes you on a new journey in a different direction, that is what I initially thought of Assimilation something completely out of my comfort zone but still giving me a sense of intrigue to a point that I needed to explore further and in a word I am glad I did.

Assimilation comes from the heart as it tells the story of a young immigrant girl who is desperate to break from the path that has been already chosen, driven by the want to explore like others in her family Charlotte longed to see the world and explore different cultures but will unfortunately find out that life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.

A story that has many paths that interlock and entwine to give the reader a unique story that has you jumping backwards and forwards but never feels confusing, all the jumping makes sense in terms of the story of it doesn’t straight away then it will as you get later into the book.

As with most families we find out that this particular family has many skeletons in their closet and unfortunately for Charlotte she will have to find this out rather than her family tell her the truth for what Charlotte is unaware of lies a dark past that is set to be uncovered but it may not be the answers she is looking for.

For me Assimilation reads like a diary personal as the Charlotte describes historical events that put them on the path of discovery that they found themselves on, the anguish that Charlotte feels throughout her journey resonates through the words written on the page in what at first glance should’ve been a straight forward journey of Discovery for Charlotte but in fact turns into more of a journey into a darkness that she may well never fully come back from.

You can’t help but feel attached to Charlotte’s character with her heartfelt story and her passion and drive that will never let her give up on reaching her end goal of being accepted and more importantly being loved.

As I previously said this probably wasn’t a book that I would’ve gone for initially but I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience it. A story that has an emotional rawness throughout, as the story develops you step inside Charlotte’s shoes and thanks to the depth of the writing you feel the anguish first hand. A journey through one woman’s battle to break the norm and live her best life defeating the many obstacles that are thrown in her way.

This was an introduction to the writing of Sophie Buchaillard and I would say I was impressed at how quickly I became invested in the book, the book is split into smaller sub chapters that relate to the relevant person or event that are relevant to that particular story. The story has a heavy content but is well crafted that it doesn’t feel a heavy feel to it and I found it a relatively easy read that didn’t feel overwhelming, but at the same time thought provoking.

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Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give Assimilation a good score of 4 ⭐ an emotionally engaging story that will pull on your every emotion, a definite eye opener into the life of young immigrants looking for that better life, opened my eyes to the situations of many people that have to go through similar journeys in life. A definite recommendation from me.

Assimilation is available now where all good books are sold.

About the Author

Sophie Buchaillard writes contemporary fiction that reflects on the anxieties of our age, using movement and migration, to connect history with our reality

Her short stories and essays have appeared in a wide array of literary magazines and newspapers.

She also writes about the environment under the handle #plasticfree.

Her first novel This Is Not Who We Are (Seren) was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year 2023.

Thanks again to Random Things Tours for adding me into this blog tour, be sure to check out others on the tour – details below: